Wai Not Go Green?

       Domegrown   “We promote vigorous growth”

Attention: All Wai Not Go Green Members and other interested folk

Domegrown, suppliers and manufacturers of the unique Solar Dome Greenhouse and based here in the Wairarapa, cordially invite you to their official product launch, open day and ribbon cutting ceremony on Sunday 15th August , 2010 at 11am. Sue Kedgely MP will be doing the honor of cutting the ribbon at 11.30am and festivities are expected to continue until 3pm.

There will be light refreshments and chance to chat and mingle - thanks Michelle and Gavin for providing an opportunity for some of WaiNot's members to meet in person! It's also a great opportunity to see the dome in action and learn more about how they work.

Sam and I hope to see some of you there - that's if our baby hasn't arrived yet! 

Please RSVP to Michelle McArthur @ Domegrown on 06 216 0177

See ya there!

Janine@WaiNotGoGreen

The Greater Wellington Regional Council invites you to partner with them in creating a new approach to managing the region’s natural resources. 

As a regional council, Greater Wellington has policies and plans covering soils, waterways, wetlands and lakes, air, the coastal and marine environment and biological diversity - plants, birds, fish, lizards, and insects.  They have set up a new committee - Te Upoko Taiao – Natural Resource Plan Committee - to oversee their next generation of plans and would like as much community input and participation as possible.

There are two local events, one in Masterton and one at Tinui (sorry we missed the Martinborough one which was on the 7th) and they are particularly keen to get folks along to the Masterton event THIS MONDAY 12th at the Masterton Town Hall (7pm - 9.30pm). At these workshops everybody will have an opportunity to share their ideas in small groups.  All contributions from the workshops will be included in reports that will be published on their website and will form the basis of the next round of discussion about the possible shape of our future policies and plans. 

It's crucial that we make our thoughts on the Wairarapa's natural resources heard so get along to the workshop if you can and share what it is that you value in your local and regional environment. Let's do all we can to protect our precious resources for the future.

For more details on the workshops visit the WaiNot Events Calendar. Please RSVP by emailing regional-plan@gw.govt.nz or contacting Shelley Martin, 04 802 0337. 

A fun, family working bee, helping the ongoing work already underway to restore Masterton’s Makoura Stream has been organised for June 5th – NZ Arbor Day/UN World Environment Day – at the old gas works site on the corner of Pownall & Villa Streets (by the Bridge Club) anytime from 10am to 2pm. Sausages and drinks will be provided at lunchtime.

All are welcome.

Please come along and support this wonderful project!

If possible, please bring a rake, shovel, grubber, wheelbarrow, bucket, and gloves – we will be mulching rather than planting. J & L Cummings Treescaping Ltd have provided, free of change, a quantity of mulch for placing around all the native trees, etc, that were planted at our last working bee. By mulching it is hoped that in addition to suppressing weeds, the mulch will provide additional moisture retention in the dryer months.The working bee will be held wet or fine. We look forward to as much help as possible on this important day for New Zealand’s environment.

ACT NOW to Stop Plans for Mining in NZ's Treasured Wild Places! 

The government have announced a 'stocktake' of mining resources in some of Aotearoa's most treasured national parks, marine reserves and wildlife sancturies. It is very likely that this is the first step towards these places being opening up for mining companies to exploit. What are your thoughts? Please act now to let the government know how you feel about this. See the links below for more information and to take action.

Read Green Party FAQs on the Mining Issue

The Government's Perspective

Make a submission, send an e-card or start a petition

Join the facebook campaign against mining

Conservation Week 2009 is packed with loads of activities to get involved with including restoring Castlepoint sand dunes, photo competitions, scavenger hunts, beach clean-ups, walks and conservation korero with DOC experts. And that's just the half of it! See the WaiNot events calendar for details of the weeks events' or click here to view the Conservation Week Events Poster and  the Conservation Week website

The Wairarapa Farmers Market is running a special promotion - simply sign up for their weekly market email and go in the monthly draw to win a $50 market hamper. The update email lets market goers know what's new that week at the market.

Join the mailing list at waifarmersmarket.org.nz and keep an eye out for the changes to their new website.

The market also has a new manager, John Hart (contact details below). All the best for the new role John!

John Hart

Market Manager

Wairarapa Farmers' Market

john@waifarmersmarket.org.nz

twitter: @waifarmersmkt

web: waifarmersmarket.org.nz

Market Phone 021 0437899

Some of you may remember James Bellamy, from Lower Hutt. James came to the Wairarapa a couple of years ago to facilitate an earthbuilding pizza oven workshop. All in all about 50 people turned up from around the Wairarapa and a great day was had. Originally from Lower Hutt, James has worked extensively in the field of sustainable building, with projects in the UK, South Africa and elsewhere. 

For those of you that met James and would like to see pictures of the beautiful earth domes he was helping to construct in South Africa, click on the link below to see pictures. James is now back in NZ and amongst other things, is involved in helping to organise NZ's first climate camp.

Eco-Building Pics from South Africa

A lot has has been happening on and around the Makoura stream over the last wee while. Click on the link below to find out all about recent plantings, updates on the biodiversity of the stream and what's coming up over the next few months.  
 

Makoura Stream Restoration Project - Winter Newsletter

www.climatecamp.org.nz

Aotearoa's first ever Climate Camp seeks to address the real causes of climate change and build a people's movement that can and will stop disastrous climate change.

There are at least 19 Climate Camps being held across the world in 2009; each situated at a different target; each making the link between local struggles for environmental justice with the global imperative of climate change.

This year Climate Camps are popping up at coal mines, coal fired power stations, an airport in France, a nuclear reactor in Lapland, the European Carbon Exchange in London and more. NZ's Climate Camp will host workshops on everything from sustainable energy use and direct action, to community gardening and internet hacking. The final day culminates in a Day of Action, where people take real action against the root causes of climate change.

Come to climate camp for:

Sustainable Living Tips: the camp is an example of a sustainable temporary eco village using a horizontal organising structure. Yes - that means you make all the decisions at climate camp.

Education: heaps of free workshops

Direct Action: focusing on False Solutions to Climate Change

Movement Building: the beginings of a peoples Climate Justice Movement in Aotearoa

To be held in Wellington, from the 16th-21st of December - see the website for more details

I recently received this powerpoint about the impact of plastic bottles by email. Its horrifying! check out the plastic vortexs in the pacific and atlantic. They are enormous and have been equmilating since plastic product first went into production in the 50's. That means there is 60 year old plastic floating in the sea. The size of one these plastic vortex stretch's from Hawaii to Japan and in some places measure 10 metres in depth.

Download the powerpoint presentation here

If you are interested in finding out more check these guys Project Kaisei - Capturing the Plastic Vortex. they are actually trying to do something. They are backed by some big guns such as the UN and Green Peace but they also need support from the little people too.

If you are keen to get a stainless steel eco- bottle for yourself or your little ones, you can order them online at www.justherbal.co.nz